The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1887-07-28
TAFFY, THE WELSHMAN.

over, having strong Welsh ''burr"
on his tongue. we at once nicknamed
him Tafy-the silly pseudonym for .
Welshman.
1--WE" means Tom Darlington and
the present writer. At the time Of
teenth year, and with Tom above
named had shipped as ordinary sea-
men, after two deep water passages,
with Captain Carver In the ship Salem.
Taffy, who was about the same age,
Joined US at London, and we three,
through Captain Carver's kindness,
were allowed to occupy the boys
room"-for this was in the palny
days of American ships and American
Beamen.
IF you two chaps get ahead this
voyage as fast as you did the two
others You have sailed with me. III
give one Of you a second mates berth
the very first chance" Captain Carver
had said, and of course this put US both
on our mettle to do our level best.
But after Taffy came aboard, Tom
and found that he knew more of sea-
manship, both theoretically and in
practice, than the pair of US put to-
gether. And / am ashamed to say
that we were both mean enough to
cherish that sort of petty spite against
him which naturally rises from secret
envy.
AS have said, this was in the days
of American ships and sailors. Fur
Their, it was in the days of the wild
packets" which are now only MEM
DRY that will remain with some Of us
BeRfarers forever.
For the average packet sailor was
something more than ''hard citizen"
In those days. The worst of them,
banded together in a sort of secret So
ciety known as the "bloody forties, {"
comprised gang of as thoroughly
reckless and criminal desperadoes as
ever stepped over a ships rail-and
may add as thorough seamen as ever
manned yard.
As 1t unfortunately happened, men
were scarce in Liverpool when the
ship was ready to sail, and Captain
Carver was obliged to take such as he
could get. And to do them strict JUS
tice, in all my seafaring days 1 cannot
recall seeing eight such villainous
looking faces in one lot as those that
made up our new crew.
There was trouble from the first 'ay
out. The men had been accustomed
to ship discipline backed up by ar
Volver and q pair of brass knuck'
worn and used at the slightest sho
characterization. Captain Carver, on
the other hand, had heretofore allowed
neither threats nor abuse on the part
of his officers, so that IL soon became
evident that unless some decided &C
ton was taken, open instead of half
disguised mutiny would be the re-
suit
We were bound for New York in
ballast. Cotton freights were at their
best, and in his stateroom Captain
Carver had upward of forty thousand
dollars in gold-the freight money of
the preceding voyage. Unfortunately
the steward, who was q garrulous
Cockney, whether purposely or not,
had made known the fact to the crew.
And this without doubt laid the train
for what followed.
It was In midsummer, and the ship,
making the southern passage, was
fifteen days out from Liverpool. Mr..
Duffries, the mate, went forward in
the dog watch to see that the sidelights
were burning clear, as we were in the
direct track of steamers and sailing
vessels. He never came back.
None of the men knew anything as
to his disappearance. The man on the
lookout swore that as Mr.. Duffries
came up on the t'gallant forecastle, he
the lookout-stepped down to get Q
light for his pipe. When he returned
Mr.. Duffries was not there, and OF
course-so said the sailor-he pre-
sumed the mate had gone aft. So IL
like manner testified all the rest.
Nothing could be done about 1t, FOL
nothing could be proved, as q mattel
of course. There had been mo- sounI
of blow or scuffie or splash in tn,
water. All was wrapped in mystery
and Captain Carver was terribly
worked up.
Mr.. Grier, q canny Scotchman-wa
promoted to the position of first officer
Which of us two would be chosen t,
fill the second mates berth was tn
unspoken question in my own ant
Toms mind, as a matter Of course.
On the following evening, at the be
ginning of the dog watch, Tafy wa
sent to put away the MARINE spikes
tarPots, and the like. in the "bo'sun'
locker" q sort of closet under tn
t'gallant forecastle. He was absen
so long that think both Mr.. erie
and Captain Carver imagined tina
something might haVe happened t
him. But Just as the wheel was re
lieved at eight bells, Taffy made hi
appearance aft. Instead of enterin
the boys room, he made his way
''sneaked," so Tom and / said, int
the cabin, where he remained closete
nearly an hour with Captain Carver.
Say, fellers." he whispered, as h
softly closed the doors, cheers troubl
either of us could speak, Taffy wer
on hurriedly and briefly to tell us ths
while under the t'gallant forecastl'
unknown to the crew, he had hear
Casey and fellow known as Brocl
the two ringleaders, laying plans wit
the others to take charge of the shi
some time during the middle watcl
murder the two remaining officer
scuttle the vessel and escape in Il
two boats with the gold. Mr.. Duffri,
had been quietly disposed of the nigl
before by knife thrust, and soft
dropped over the side, so they rec
onec on an easy accomplishment of Il
rest. We three 'boys" were to
left to GO down with the sinking shi
Taffy then unfolded desperate pl;
tofrustrate the plot which lad Occurr
to Captain Carver, who unfortunate
had no weapon of any kind in the ca
in with the exception of single-bs
relied holster pistol. What this pl
was will be seen shortly. But thr
more excited young fellows nev
obeyed the summons to ''turn OF
aud relieve wheel and lookout, tn
Tom, Taffy and myself, at eight be
of the middle watch.
1t was my first WHEEL relievi
Casey, the acknowledged ringleader
the gang. With heart that throbb
like a trip hammer, took the spoil
from his hands and received the cou
-''sou'west by west"
/ saw Captain Carver glance quiz
ly forward, as a murmur of vol
from that part of the ship reached {
ears. Suddenly putting out his +
as the sailor was passing. he at
same moment clutched Casey by
throat, and, bending him backw!
over the rail. hurled him headlong |
the sea-
The whole affair took place so qui
y that not a sound or cry escaped
NJ